Discover the many versatile and absorbing techniques, including screen printing, embroidery, sewing and quilting, silk painting and much more on a short course at West Dean College. Escape the everyday and enjoy a creative break in the inspirational atmosphere and natural landscape surrounding the college at the heart of the South Downs this summer. Join a community of specialist tutors and fellow students eager to enrich their lives through creating fine art textiles or something beautiful to wear or for your home.

Whether you are keen to try hand embroidery or you have an ongoing project and need help, take advantage of the tutor's comprehensive knowledge and gain new skills and fresh ideas to move your project forward, or begin a new one. Hand embroidery - tips and techniques with specialist embroiderer and needlework restorer Shelley Cox (27- 30 May, long weekend, £325, beginners/intermediate).

Develop an expressive language for art textiles in paperwork and stitch through sampling. Expend this through touch and texture, first with paper and found materials, and then develop a raised surface with stitch, fabric and invented textures. Raising the surface - touch, stitch and textures (NEW 13 - 16 May, long weekend, £325, suitable for all).

Design and create your own unique embroidered wearable art. Using a basic sewing machine and water dissolvable fabric, learn freehand embroidery and how to manipulate your work into sculptural jewellery. Machine embroidered jewellery with machine embroiderer Lindsay Taylor (NEW 17 - 19 June, weekend, £227, suitable for all).

Textile designer, quilter and author, Janet Clare, will guide you through free machine drawing and the fusible applique techniques she uses to create her charming quilts and wall hangings. Combine these skills with simple patchwork piecing, hand quilting and embroidery to embellish your own textile project. A Field Guide - nature inspired quilted textiles (NEW 17 - 20 July, three days, £365, beginners).

Explore transparency and the use of layered dyes and paints to create surfaces for stitch. Develop your own visual narrative inspired by found materials, with painting, dyeing and sun or shadow prints. Add stitch to drawn elements to layer or piece. Tracing shadows - dyed and stitched textiles with artist and author Cas Holmes. (29 August - 2 September, four days, £436, suitable for all).

Learn the techniques of making bojagi - a traditional Korean wrapping cloth, often stitched from fine fabric scraps. Become acquainted with its history and usage in Korean society. Make authentic Korean fabrics and interpret the traditional techniques to make a modern art form of your choice, such as body ornaments, art-to-wear and wall hangings. Bojagi and beyond - Korean stitched and pieced cloth with fibre artist, exhibition organiser and writer Chunghie Lee (NEW 25 - 29 September, four days, £471, intermediate).

ACCOMMODATION AT WEST DEAN

Wake up to beautiful views over the Sussex Downs. The bedrooms at West Dean College are a mixture of contemporary and traditional styling. From £102 per person for 2 nights (twin occupancy).

SPECIAL OFFER

For more information about Short Courses at West Dean and to browse the digital brochure and book a short course visit www.westdean.org.uk. First time bookings receive a 10% discount (telephone bookings only call +44 (0)1243 818300).

FRIENDS OF WEST DEAN COLLEGE
If you are passionate about the creative arts and conservation join the vibrant community and enjoy all West Dean has to offer by becoming a Friend of the College. To find out more visit www.westdean.org.uk/friends.

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Notes to editors

• West Dean College is part of The Edward James Foundation, a charitable trust, also comprising West Dean Gardens, West Dean Estate and the West Dean Tapestry Studio. Charity No. 1126084.
• All photography is free to use for editorial purposes.
• West Dean College is situated on the A286, six miles north of Chichester and within easy access of Portsmouth, Guildford, Brighton and London.